Highlights

Motion Sickness of Time TravelThe Perennials EP

Rachel Evans’ Motion Sickness of Time Travel project is like an untiring astronomist obsessed with finding the limits of the universe. One look at her Bandcamp page will reveal an average of nearly one release a month for the entirety of 2012, and already three different releases for January of 2013 alone. Her newest observation, The Perennials EP, is an investigation into that dance-floor urgency without all of the sweaty kids, not unlike some of the lighter moments of Actress’ 2012 masterwork, R.I.P. Yet it’s not an entirely new direction from MSOTT’s own 2012 self-titled breakout, more of a detour through an asteroid field. I can’t wait to see what February brings.

The Perennials EP is available now over at Boomkat. You can listen to a couple of the songs from the EP below.

“I Love You”

Lil B has just released what he calls the most honest, touching video of 2013. You might say, “wait a minute, that doesn’t make any sense! 2013 just started!” Well, you’re just jealous that you lack Based God’s Based Clairvoyance, because he’s spot-on with his assertions. Whether it’s a guinea pig, a dog, or even a boa constrictor, Lil B’s love knows no gender, race or species. Around the 3:00 mark, he starts to cry, and you can bet that I started crying too. Because when Lil B cries for you, he’s also crying for me, humanity, and love in general. Lil B loves you. Never forget that.

1993

Sanding down the smooth surface of R&B history with rough, tape-hiss sandpaper, this new SLF Tapes release from James Matthew spans some real distance in just under nine minutes. The sheen on all of those saxophone solos and silky synth melodies has disappeared with age and been buried so far into the mix that it’s like Kenny G cut all of his curly locks and is now just another member of a horn section in some smokey lounge band. I really prefer it this way.

Listen to it below, and download the entire nine-minute experience for yourself over at the SLF Bandcamp page.

“Lead Balloon”

I’ve never been to Minnesota. But surely residents of the state claiming the blueberry muffin and common loon have their demands — surely they have needs. Some people need warm food, some people need mo’ money, some people need less problems, some people need a little love, some need a country with fewer idiots with guns, some just need fewer idiots, and some people only need one more toke, man, just one more. With upcoming EP Needs, to be dropped February 12, Minnesotan band Carroll proposes to tell us just exactly what four young men in the Bread and Butter State have been jonesin’ for.

Turn, then, your attention to Carroll track “Lead Balloon,” premiered and streaming below. The track appears to assert Carroll’s belief that sometimes all a song requires is a full-throated, candid vocal performance and a producer who can mix those croons to the track’s front. The lush guitar blooms and lazer-pointed synth provide easygoing support to Brian Hurlow’s lyrics. While there are certainly bands and bards in 2013 hunting for ways to revolutionize melodies with unknown sounds and shapes, Carroll’s “Lead Balloon” propose that a crystal, honest voice and clean chords are all it takes to fully sate a certain set of aural needs.

Ritual De Los Goblins

So, this fellah Chris Bridge began making music as Virtual Flannel (a.k.a. ᏉᎥᏒᏆuᎪᏞ fᏞᎪᏁᏁᎬᏞ) when he purchased an OP-1 Synthesizer. Developing his own sounds using this instrument stirred his musical inspiration, and the boii went mad with beats. Warped with his love for “that raw dirty lo-fi tape culture,” he began to put forth his first collection of jams on cassette. Recently, he hooked up with Noorden through his deep pal Yellow Tangerine (on the mix) while he was curating the Rumble When Bumble, an all OP-1 compilation. After seeing all their limited art, Chris sent them his demo, which was turned into his first Self-Titled CD-R and art pack. It was released in a limited amount of 50, but the second edition is on its way. He’s also now working on the follow up to the Self-Titled art pack coming out soon on cassette. For a tad more info on the fellah, scope this interview.

Aside from Chris’ rundown as a musician, he provided us with a bunch of new beat tracks to wobble your head to on this FriFri. I’d suggest following the peeps on this mix, both recognizable musicians and the unheard. He even included himself, which is a bold move, but believe me-him-you, it fits right in there. Ain’t no left about it, if you’re feeling the flow, use your words. Maybe we got a new based rapper on our hands in you. Feel the lax and chill with a cooler. Snag a slice and work them feet. If you driving: SWERVE. It’s a mad world, Friday fans. Let’s keep the peace!

“hills”

YYU, the man obsessed with time in 2012, might be letting it pass by a little more naturally in 2013. This new feel-good ditty “Hills” seems to be made by an entirely organic creature. Sure, there are minor chop-ups and blip-outs throughout the song, but the guitar and voice are forefront, making it sound about as far away from vaporwave as the Seahawks are from winning the Super Bowl.